Switzerland

Managers of the various e-health pilot schemes carried out in Switzerland can now submit their pilots to the eHealth Suisse Secretariat for evaluation. Each project will be assessed on their compliance with the recommendations for the implementation of pilot schemes in line with Swiss e-health strategy.

Recommendations for the implementation of the Swiss e-health strategy have been continuously issued by the eHealth Suisse Steering Committee since March 2009. On 2 September 2011, the same committee published both the concept and the guidance document for the evaluation of pilot schemes, meaning the evaluations can start.

There are two key aims of these assessments: So that compliant pilot schemes can later be integrated into a national e-health infrastructure and to bring transparency to the e-health landscape and enable other projects to benefit from lessons learnt.

Based on their degree of maturity, the evaluated projects can receive one of the following certifications: 'regional', 'interregional' or 'national'. As the components coordinated at national level have not been fixed yet, the highest certification that can be awarded is 'interregional - strategy-compliant'. The evaluation of the pilot schemes will be financed by eHealth Suisse, provided that the involved canton certifies in writing that it will provide lasting support to the strategic orientation of Swiss e-health. Private projects can also be evaluated, using the same criteria and rules, but at their own expense.

The eHealth Suisse Coordination Body has a mission to ensure that the various e-health projects are compliant with the Swiss e-health strategy, and that there are synergies between the various projects. The eHealth Suisse Steering Committee is the managing entity of the eHealth Suisse Coordination Body and is composed of representatives of the confederation and the cantons as well as of the relevant stakeholders in e-health. It comprises eight members; four representatives of the confederation and four representatives of the cantons. Based on the proposals of the Secretariat or relevant working groups, it makes decisions on the implementation of the strategy, and it is responsible for the achievement of the strategy's goals.

For more information on eHealth Suisse please read this issue's country focus (pg. 46).